Car-axle box



(No Model.)

J. H. ELWARD.

GAR AXLE BOX. No. 253,688 Patented Peb.14.1882.

J (g m Wifneww em 5 the one here shown.

UNrran STATES PATENT Orrrea.

JOHN H. ELWARD, OFSTILLWATER, MINNESOTA.

CAR-AXLE BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 253,688, dated February 14:, 1882.

Application filed December 2'7, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN H. ELWARD, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Stillwater, in the county of Washington and State of Minnesota-,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Axle Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is an end view of an axle-box, embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section, showing also the relations of the box to the axle and the wheel.

In the drawings I have shown a sufficient part of the axle and the axle-box to illustrate the essential features of my invention.

Heretofore it has been common to form or east the end of the axle-box with an inwardlyprojecting boss, arranged to bear against the end of the axle to receive the end-thrust and hold the parts in proper relative positions. The boss hasgenerally been made in a single piece, and therefore, as will be readily seen, the movements of the axle result in wearing away the engaging-face of the boss to 'snchan extent as to destroy its efficiency. The boss being thus rendered inoperative, it is necessary to remove that portion of the box carrying it and replace it with a new one, thus entailing much expense, which Iobviate by my improved device.

A represents a portion of an ordinary caraxle, and B the wheel thereon. The box outside of the wheel is shown asbeing formed of the top Ofthe bottom D, the side walls, E, the inner walls, F, and the front partial wall, G 5 but the essential features of myinvention may be embodied in axle-boxes of other forms than The side parts are arranged to operate in substantially the ordinary manneras an oil-receptacle.

H H represent the two parts of the adjust ble boss. I have shown them one, H, formed with and connected to a cap piece or closingpiece I, for the box, (though it may be formed separately therefrom and secured to it in any desired way,) and the other, H, formed separately therefrom. The cover or closing-piece I extends from the part G of the front wall to the top of the box. From this outer portion project inwardly pins or guide-pieces h h, either cast with or inserted into said part H. The part H is provided with a central aperture and eccentric apertures corresponding in number and position to the pins or guide-pieces h. K represents a bolt passing through the cap or closing piece I and the part H of the boss into the opposing movable part, H, engaging with the part I or the surrounding strap by means of its thread. After the bearing-face of the part H has become worn to such an extent as to prevent it from hearing properly against the axle, it can be moved inward by the bolt and held. Rotation of the part H is prevented by the pins h. Washers at h may be used, if desired. In this way the wearing part can be adjusted into any position when such adjustment is made necessary by wear, and it will be seen that even if the part H should be entirely destroyed by wear or otherwise it renders necessary only a small and simply-constructed piece of metal to be replaced, instead of the much larger and more expensive pieces which must be replaced when use is made of the ordinary devices.

The cap or closing piece is supported by 7 means of a surrounding strap or yoke having the cross-piece L and side pieces, L. These side pieces are pivoted at l in the side walls of the box by means of bolts. The strap or yoke L L is rigidly secured to the cap or covering piece I, not only by means of the central adjustingbolt, K, but also by means of supplemental bolts at or near the side of the box.

When it is desired to have access to the interior of the box the latter may be opened by throwing upward the strap L L and the cap or covering piece I upon the bolts at l as centers. When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3 the thrust of the axle, it will be seen, is in such direction relative to the position of the movable parts of the box that it (said thrust) will not tend to throw up the cover; but,if desired, fastening devicesor locks of any suitable character may be employed to prevent the cover from being removed from the box.

IOC

What I claim is 1. The combination, with the car-axle box and the axle of the bearing-piece H, situated entirely inside of the walls of the box, the adjusting screw or bolt K, which supports the bearing-piece, and the pins h h, which hold the bearing-piece in proper position, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the axle and the box surrounding its end, of the boss H, carried by the end piece of said box, the adjustable bearing-piece H, and the devices which pre vent it from rotating, substantially as set forth.

JOHN H. ELWARD.

Witnesses:

H. H. DOUBLEDAY, H. H. BLISS. 

